The Retreat at Sterling on the Lake

The Retreat at Sterling on the Lake is a private, gated 55+ active adult neighborhood tucked inside the larger master-planned Sterling on the Lake community in Flowery Branch, Georgia — about 45 minutes northeast of downtown Atlanta in Hall County. Built by Encore by David Weekley Homes starting in 2020, The Retreat will consist of 214 single-family ranch-style homes on 48-foot and 58-foot homesites, offering one-story, open-concept floor plans designed specifically for low-maintenance active adult living. What makes living here distinctive is that residents enjoy a "best of both worlds" amenity setup. The Retreat has its own private, adults-only amenity package — a dedicated clubhouse with fitness center, billiards room, and catering kitchen, plus a resort-style swimming pool, a yoga lawn, and private tennis and pickleball courts reserved for the 55+ community. On top of that, residents have full access to everything the greater 1,200+ home Sterling on the Lake master plan offers: a lakeside clubhouse with a state-of-the-art 24-hour fitness center, library, and 27-seat movie theatre; additional tennis, pickleball, and bocce ball courts; a zero-entry resort pool with waterslide; an infinity pool overlooking 75-acre Looper Lake; miles of walking and biking trails; a custom treehouse; kayaking and fishing; and a full-time activities director who runs classes, social events, craft lessons, book clubs, summer concerts, and holiday celebrations year-round. The Hall County Spout Springs Public Library sits right at the community entrance with a café, screened patio, and reading areas. Homes in The Retreat range from roughly 1,670 to 3,996 square feet, with the Skylar, Henshaw, and other Encore floor plans featuring 10-foot ceilings, 8-foot doors, gourmet kitchens with gas cooktops and quartz counters, covered front and rear porches, and two-car garages. Lawn maintenance is included in the HOA, so homeowners can spend time on the lake, the pickleball court, or exploring nearby Lake Lanier instead of the yard. The neighborhood is gated and attracts buyers looking for a maintenance-free lakeside lifestyle within an amenity-rich, multi-generational master plan — close to small-town Flowery Branch charm but with quick I-985/I-85 access to Buford, Braselton, Gainesville, and Atlanta.